‘Game of Thrones’ Cast Audition Reel Is as Charming as You’d Expect

The night is dark and full of terrors, but today’s Game of Thrones panel at Comic-Con 2015 was void of any new casting announcements — or any cast members at all, for that matter. To make up for it, the hit HBO series brought along this wonderful audition reel, featuring favorites like Gwendoline Christie and Pedro Pascal before they became your favorites.

They don’t call them highlight reels for nothing, as every single cast member in this audition montage could easily be the highlight. There’s a reason why each and every one of them were chosen to star on Game of Thrones, and although the clips are brief, you can just feel their greatness in every second.

Obviously, HBO saved the best for last: Gwendoline Christie’s reading of Brienne’s line, “All my life I’ve been knocking men like you into dust” is absolutely perfect, and even though she’s dressed plainly in an audition room, it’s still powerful enough to give me chills. Brienne for president!

With some clever editing, the reel uses the audition clips as reactions to the final footage used in the show. Pedro Pascal and Michiel Huisman are quite charming, as is Carice Van Houten when she screws up one of Melisandre’s foreboding lines. Kristofer Hivju’s spit-take with the carrot in his audition for Tormund Giantsbane is pretty hilarious, too.

We didn’t get much in the way of new info or casting at the Game of Thrones panel at Comic-Con today, but this is an A-okay substitute.